Merle Pierson honored with emeritus status
Merle D. Pierson, of Newport, Va., professor of food science and technology in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Virginia Tech, was conferred with the title "Professor Emeritus" by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors during the board's quarterly meeting Monday, March 14.
The title of emeritus may be conferred on retired professors and associate professors, administrative officers, librarians, and exceptional staff members who have given exemplary service to the university and who are specially recommended to the board of visitors by Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board of visitors receive an emeritus certificate from the university.
A member of the Virginia Tech faculty for 35 years, Pierson established an internationally-recognized food safety research program at the university. He is widely known for his accomplishments and service to food science, especially to the areas of food microbiology and food safety. His Extension and outreach work in the area of food safety and hazard analysis critical control point systems have provided valuable assistance to the food industry.
Pierson is a member of Virginia Tech's Academy of Teaching Excellence. He received his bachelor's degree from Iowa State University, and a master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Illinois.
Consistently ranked by the National Science Foundation among the top 10 institutions in agricultural research, Virginia Tech's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences offers students the opportunity to learn from some of the world's leading agricultural scientists. The college's comprehensive curriculum gives students a balanced education that ranges from food and fiber production to economics to human health. The college is a national leader in incorporating technology, biotechnology, computer applications, and other recent scientific advances into its teaching program.
Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities, and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg, and other campus centers in northern Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.
